Smoke control means for cigarettes



Nov. 5, 1968 A. H. K. CHUN 3,409,019

SMOKE CONTROL MEANS FOR CIGARETTES Filed Dec. 8, 1965 United States Patent() 3,409,019 SMOKE CONTROL MEANS FOR CIGARETTES Allen H. K. Chun, 2337 Centinela Ave., Santa Monica, Calif. 90405 Filed Dec. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 512,337 Claims. (Cl. 131--10.7)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A smoke controlling vdevice in the form of a sleeve which is slidable and rotatable on a cigarette, and provided with a hollow longitudinal rib for the passage of auxiliary air either into the users mouth or entranied with the smoke. In the latter case, the cigarette is punctured and preferably a cavity is provided within a filler unit contained in the cigarette.

It has been well established that the smoking of tobacco is potentially dangerous to the users health, particularly the smoking of cigarettes. One factor is the high temperature of combustion which is about 880 C. when air is drawn through the cigarette. This temperature drops to about 835 C. between periods of air movement through the cigarette. At either of these temperatures the more injurious or carcinogenic products such as polycyclic hydrocarbons are formed; whereas, at temperatures below 700 C. the formation of such injurious products is minimized.

Another factor concerns the presence of adequate oxygen. When air is drawn through the cigarette, the so-called main stream smoke contains less harmful compounds, than during the intervening periods of minimal flow when the so-called side stream smoke is produced. This is due to the smaller percentage of air in the side stream smoke.

A further factor is the accumulation of the injurious products in the unburned tobacco behind the ember through which the smoke is drawn, as well as the recombustion of these compounds as the cigarette is consumed.

The purpose of the present invention is to minimize the harmful effects of tobacco smoking, and accordingly, the objects of this invention include:

First, to provide a smoke control means for cigarettes which incorporates a novel 'means for extracting heat from cigarettes so as to reduce the temperature of the ember, thereby to minimize the formation of injurious products.

Second, to provide a heat extracting means for cigarettes, one form of which involves a metal element arranged to penetrate the cigarette ember and a heat dissipating element attached to the outer end of the metal element beyond the cigarette and terminating in a sleeve surrounding the cigarette.

Third, to provide a heat extracting ymeans for cigarettes, another form of which involves a plurality of wires `traversing the cigarette and terminating in exposed heat dissipating extremities, which may be in heat conductive relation with a metal lined sleeve for further heat dissipation.

Fourth, to provide a smoke control means for cigarettes, wherein the cigarette is modified to increase sleeve expands for free sliding movement on the cigarette, said sleeve being adapted to perform such functions, Vas heat dissipation, and air and smoke liow control, as well as functioning as a holder.

Sixth, to provide a smoke control means for cigarettes which incorporates a novel filter particularly suited to supplement the heat dissipating means and air and smoke control means.

With the above and other objects in view as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a side view of a cigarette, modified to incorporate the smoke control means.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view of a cigarette and its control means as it appears during smoking of the cigarette.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken within circle 3 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through 4-4 of FIGURE 1 showing the air and smoke control sleeve in its cigarette gripping condition.

FIGURE 5 is a similar sectional view showing the manner in which the sleeve is distorted in order to expand it so as to permit free movement of the sleeve on the cigarette.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a modied form of heat absorbing means.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through 7-7 of FIGURE l, showing the filter end of the cigarette.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIGURE 7 showing a Imodified filter construction.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary side view, showing a filtertip type of cigarette and illustrating the function of the air and smoke controlling sleeve.

FIGURE l0 is a diagrammatical, transverse view of the sleeve only, corresponding to FIGURE 4, showing two hollow ribs.

Reference is first directed to FIGURES 1 through 5. The cigarette designated 1, herein illustrated, is modified by the provision of a plurality of transverse air passages 2, preferably, but not necessarily, arranged in a common plane and equally spaced. The transverse air passages occupy that portion of the cigarette which is normally smoked. The total number of passages and the cumulative area of these passages is such that it would be difficult to smoke the cigarette.

It is intended, however, that only the one or two transverse air passages adjacent the end of the cigarette be employed at one time. In order to control these passages, a sleeve 3 is provided on one side of which is formed a hollow rib 4. The sleeve is preferably provided with an internal metal liner 5 which may be formed of metal foil. The liner or foil is covered with a insulation coating or lamination 6.

The dimensions of the sleeve are such that it tends to grip the cigarette and is not readily slidable thereon, however, by reason ofthe hollow rib 4, the sleeve may be compressed in a diametrical plane passing through the sleeve; that is, the sleeve may be compressed in the direction of the arrows, shown in FIGURE 5, so as to effect a slight expansion of the sleeve to permit ready movement of the sleeve either longitudinally or rotationally.

The hollow rib forms with the confronting portion of the cigarette 1, a duct 7. If the sleeve is rotated, as indicated by the dotted lines in FIGURE 4, air passages 2 may be exposed or partly exposed to the duct 7.

Extending from one end of the sleeve 3 and forming a continuation of or secured to the metal liner 5 is a heat conducting arm 8 which arches forwardly terminating in spaced relation to the cigarette 1. The extremity of the arm 8 is provided with a pin 9 formed of heat conducting material whichextends axially into the cigarette.

Operation of the cigarette and smoke control means thus far described is as follows:

When the cigarette is ignited, the heat absorbing pin 9 extends through the cigarette ember 10 and conducts heat from the ember to the arm 8. Some of the heat received by the pin is radiated by the arm 8. The remaining heat is carried to the sleeve 3 and particularly, the metal liner 5. The residual heat in the liner 5 is transferred to air fiowing through the hollow rib 4.

It is not intended, of course, to absorb so much heat to destroy the ember, but to reduce the temperature below 700 C. so as to minimize the production of harmful products.

It is preferred that only one or possibly two transverse air passages be exposed at any one time and that the sleeve be moved backward along the cigarette as the cigarette is consumed. The coating or lamination 6 on the sleeve 3 is, of course, formed of non-inflammable material. If the sleeve is not moved backward, the sleeve will tend to smother the ember when the ember reaches and enters the sleeve. This feature of the sleeve serves to minimize the burning of an unattended cigarette and materially reduces the fire hazard.

When the user draws on the cigarette, air is drawn in the exposed transverse passage along with smoke from the ember 10. The incoming air reduces the temperature of the smoke and supplements the action of the heat absorbing pin 9. When smoke and air are not being drawn through the cigarette and the sleeve by the user, the socalled side stream smoke does not travel along and through the cigarette, but instead, discharges laterally through the air passage so that the harmful ingredients contained in the side stream smoke are not carried through the cigarette to the user.

lBy rotating the sleeve, more or less, air may be entrained with the smoke from the ember by exposure of the air passage 2 to the duct 7. It should be observed that while one hollow rib 4 is sufficient, that two diametrically disposed ribs as shown in FIGURE 10 may be provided or additional hollow ribs may be provided as desired.

Reference is now directed to FIGURE 6 which illustrates a modified form of heat absorbing means. In this case, the air passages 11 -are disposed at an acute angle to the axis of the cigarette 1 with the ends of adjacent passages in a common plane or in slightly overlapping relation. Each air passage receives a wire 12 which absorbs heat from the ember 10 and is itself partially cooled by air flow in the passage. The wires may be corrugated as indicated by 13 or otherwise Iformed so as to be retained in the air passages, or several wires may be twisted together, Still further, one or both extremities of each wire may be extended along the surface of the cigarette as indicated by 13a for heat transferring contact with the metal liner 5 of the sleeve 3.

Reference is now directed to FIGURE 7. The first described sleeve 3, with the arm 8 and pin 9 omitted, may be employed at the mouth-end of the cigarette. The sleeve may serve as a holder or mouthpiece, and may also be employed to hold a filter unit 14, preferably in spaced relation to the cigarette, as indicated by the gap 15.

The filter unit includes a metallic shell 16 preferably formed of metal foil. The ends of the shell are inturned as indicated by 17 so as to retain a series of lfilter elements. Beginning at the extended end of the filter unit, there is provided a non-metallic filter 18 formed of cellulose acetate or cotton fibers. Contiguous to the non-metallic filter is a metallic filter 19 formed of heat conductive filaments, such as copper filaments. Contiguous to the filter 19 is a charcoal filter 20, which is separated from a second non-metallic filter 18, by an air space 21` In this region, the shell 16 is provided with perforations 22. Continuing towards the mouth-end of the filter there is provided a second metallic filter 19. At the mouth-end of the 4 lfilter, there is provided a fiavor disk 23 which may contain menthol.

The filter unit 14 is axially slidable in the sleeve 3, particularly as the sleeve is distorted as shown in FIG- URE 5 and the filter unit 14 may be rotated to bring one or more of the perforations 22 into registry with the hollow rib 4 so as to control the flow of air and its mixture with the tobacco smoke in the same manner as was referred to relative to FIGURE 4. The gap 15 also serves a similar purpose. In both cases, some smoke may enter the air stream in the duct 7, but also, auxiliary air will enter the smoke stream. If the cavity 15 is eliminated by pressing the filter unit against the body of tobacco and the side openings 22 are out of alignment with the duct 7, the air will flow through the duct 7 and entrain with the smoke in the users mouth, diluting and cooling the smoke. If one of the openings 22 is in registry with the duct 7, or the cavity 15 is formed, some of the auxiliary air will entrain with the smoke before entering the mouth. The filter unit may be constructed so as to be received between the lips of the user or may be wholly within the sleeve 3, in which case the sleeve 3 forms a mouthpiece.

Reference is now directed to FIGURE 8 which illustrates a modified filter unit 24. The filter unit 24 is provided with a metallic shell 16 in the nature of the filter unit 14. In place of a series of filter disks, the filter unit 24 is filled with a lmixture of metal fibers 25 and charcoal granules 26. The ends are closed by non-metallic filters 27 similar to the filters 18. The filter units 14 and 24 are rendered particularly effective due to the fact that most of the harmful products are removed before the smoke enters the filters so that in effect, the efficiency of the filters is increased.

Reference is now directed to FIGURE 9. In this construction, the cigarette 1 is provided with a filter tip 28 which may be a conventional filter tip except for the fact that it is provided with transverse air passages 29. A sleeve 3 is employed principally as a mouthpiece, but also as a means of controlling flow of air of the passages 29. This is accomplished by rotating the sleeve 3 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4. By rotating the sleeve, and increasing or decreasing `the entrained air, the cigarette smoke may be cooled to the desired degree.

If desired, the cigarette shown in FIGURE 9 may have a series of transverse air passages 30 of smaller diameter than the air passages 2 so as to admit a controlled amount of air.

It will be observed that while the smoke controlling means is particularly adapted for cigarettes, it may be adapted to tobacco smoked in other forms; for example, cigars.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of the constructions set forth, but instead, the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and their relationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

-1. A smoke control means for cigarettes, comprising:

v (a) a sleeve unit dimensioned to fit a cigarette for longitudinal movement thereon;

(b) said sleeve unit having at least one hollow rib extending longitudinally from end to end whereby, when said sleeve unit is fitted on a cigarette, at least one passageway for air is formed externally of the cigarette.

2. A smoke control means, as defined in claim 1, where- (a) said sleeve unit is yieldable to compression forces applied in the plane passing through the axis of said sleeve unit and said hollow rib to expand in effective diameter, thereby to slip freely on the cigarette.

3. A smoke control means, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said sleeve unit has an inner conductive lamination and an outer lamination of heat insulating material.

4. A smoke control means, as defined in claim 1, where- (a) said sleeve is flared at, at least, one end.

5. The combination with a cigarette capable of being punctured by transverse passages at selected locations along the length of the cigarette for entrance of auxiliary air, of a smoke and air flow control means, comprising:

(a) a sleeve unit slidably and rotatably fitting said cigarette;

(b) said sleeve unit having at least one hollow rib extending longitudinally between the ends of said sleeve unit and forming with the cigarette an air passage, said air passage adapted, by adjustment of said sleeve unit, to be aligned with selected transverse passages for controlling the flow of air and smoke to the mouth of the user.

6. The combination, as defined in claim 5, wherein:

(a) said cigarette has a filter at one end, said filter defining at least one wall of a cavity within said cigarette having a side perforation for radial flow of air and smoke;

(b) said means being adapted for positioning over said filter and partially received in the mouth of the user whereby, when aligned with said side perforation, air drawn through said hollow rib is entrained with smoke from the cigarette.

7. A cigarette and smoke control means therefor, comprising:

(a) a cylindrical wrapping;

(b) a body of tobacco within said wrapping;

(c) a filter unit also within said wrapping, said filter defining a cavity having at least one side perforation through said wrapping;

(d) a flexible sleeve unit slidably and rotatably fitting said wrapping to cover said side perforation;

(e) said sleeve unit having at least one longitudinal hollow rib forming with said wrapping an air passage;

(f) said sleeve unit being expansible upon compressive force on said rib to facilitate movement of said sleeve unit on said wrapping to bring said passage and side perforation into registry.

8. A means, as defined in claim 7, wherein:

(a) said filter unit includes a metallic shell and heat conductive elements, heat absorbing elements and charcoal filter elements within said shell.

9. The combination with a cigarette having a wrapping containing a filter of tobacco forming a labyrinth passage which constitutes at least part of a ow passage for the movement of smoke from the ignited end of the cigarette to the users mouth, of a smoke diluting means comprising:

(a) means defining an auxiliary air inlet located intermediate the ends 0f the cigarette externally of said wrapping;

(b) and means defining a duct for said auxiliary air extending longitudinally of the cigarette from said inlet and independently of said labyrinth passage to a point beyond said tobacco filter and continuing therefrom to the user's mouth, whereby smoke issuing from said labyrinth passage and the auxiliary air comingle at least on reaching the users mouth.

10. A combination, as defined in claim 9, wherein:

(a) said smoke diluting means is a sleeve slidably fitting said cigarette, one end being received in the users mouth, the opposing end defining said inlet, and said duct being defined in part by said sleeve and in part by the wrapping of the cigarette, whereby said auxliary air moves externally of said labyrinth passage into the users mouth.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,693,193 11/1954 Pelletier 131-182 2,819,720 1/1958 Burbig 131-10.7 2,936,763 5/1960 Saffir 131-15 3,081,777 3/1963 Sipos ISI-10.5 3,313,309 4/1967 Wang 131-265 40 LUCIE H. LAUDENSLAGER, Primary Examiner. 

